Didn't you get the memo? We have the star PG Luther Head signed, so why would we need Antonio Daniels?
Chill. It's safe to say the Rockets contacts are not limited to the 7 players listed today by Fox. Even after things are over, it's likely we will never know everyone CD contacted.
Walker would be my last choice of PFs (Swift, SAR, Marshall, Walker) but it seems like he would be the easiest and most probably player we could get. SAR and Swift are going to be targeted by a lot of teams, I don't see many teams being too interested in Walker.
Man am I happy Chris Andreson resigned with the Hornets. I am glad the Rockets are contacting some 'impact' FAs. We need to. Adding one super quality impact FA is important versus adding 2 average FAs. Of the impact guys we have talked to here is my order of interest 1) Simmons 2) Swift 3) Walker 4a) Marshall 4b) SAR A couple of weeks ago I would have rated Swift #1, but I have warmed up a ton to Simmons to put him #1 on my wish list.
Comparing Antoine Walker and Stromile Swift, it would seem that SS would have the clear advantage. I don't necessarily think that is true. I think that SS is a better fit as a starter, while AW is a better fit as a 6th man. Which begs the question, is SS good enough to play starter minutes? Age: AW is older at 28 (29 in Aug.), but Stromile is 25 (26 in Nov). 4 years is huge in NBA terms. However, don't forget that AW was putting up allstar numbers in his first 5 years, while SS has barely put up 6th man numbers. Durability: Looking at the numbers, AW is durable. He has played >80 games in 6 of 8 non strike shortened seasons and >75 games in 8 of 8. SS has played >80 in 1 of 5, >75 in 2 of 5 averaging ~70 games per season. Offense: AW is a flat out scorer with 3pt range, SS is an avg. scorer. AW has shooting % of .422 and .323 while SS is at .449. I agree that AW shoots too many 3's, but keep in mind this is the same 3p% as Tmac. I also find it interesting that if you subtract AW's strict 2p% .454, about the same as SS. I think AW as a 3rd option or 1st option off the bench would be fantastic. As a 6th man, AW would really stabilize our 2nd team, while SS would probably not have a large impact. TO's, AST's and O-rebounding: AW has way too many TO's for a Pf. However, per 48 min. AW has 4.1 while SS has 3.4! Take into account that AW handles the ball alot more and this really shows that SS is just as clumsy with the ball as AW. O-rebounding has been lacking on this team and SS is a better O-rebounder than AW at 3.5 to 3.0, respectively. This probably is due to AW being at the three point line during offensive sets. AW is clearly the superior passer b/c of his ball handling skills (4.3 to 1.6 per 48). Defense: Both of these guys are bad defenders. AW is too small and doesn't exert himself enough. SS is slow laterally and can't guard quicker players 1 on 1. SS is a much superior blocker (3.5 to .9) and about the same stealer (1.54 to 1.45). SS would provide that defensive presence, if he were to start. If he is a 2nd teamer, than its likely his talents would be wasted b/c Deke is such a good straight up blocker. IMO, both these guys lack the type of defensive skills that we really want (see Tyson Chandler). It is worrisome that SS avg. 6.8 fouls per 48 (AW 3.5). On the 2nd team, I think AW is sufficient defensivley, while SS is more suited to start with his defensive skill set. Defensive rebounding: Controlling the boards is key to winning as JVG has frequently said. Believe it or not, AW is a more adept defensive rebounder than the more athletic and tall SS. (Once again Barkley proved its not about athletic prowess, but more about fundamental boxing out and positioning) AW avgs 8.3 to SS's 6.8. Lots of arguments can be made about this (i.e. so and so played with a better rebounding big man), but I have always been suprised by how good a rebounder the undersized AW is. Conclusion: I think SS maybe a little overrated due to his athletic appeal and age. I don't think he is starter material, and I bet he would get beat out by Juwan Howard, thus losing his appeal (i.e. defensive help and weakside blocking). I think AW would also come off the bench, which would maximize his best qualities (i.e. scoring when T-mac or Yao is on the bench). Both of these guys would be absolute fantastic pick ups this offseason. Both would add depth to a depthless position on this team.
Stromile has shown nothing but "potential" since he has been in the league and now he wants to break the bank. What does he bring: 9 ppg and 5 rbg and .6 apg in 21 mpg (oh yeah, 1.4 blocks). Uh huh. Walker has been a proven starter and an All Star. If he is willing to sign an affordable contract, we know exactly what he can bring: 19.8 ppg and 8.6 rbs and 4.1 apg in 38.8 mpg I'm not a Walker fan but I prefer production to potential. I think under JVG, Walker could be a nice pickup.
The signing of Walker or Swift would both be based on potential. Swift's potential to develop as a player and Walker's potential to completely alter his game to fit with Yao and Mcgrady. They would both be risky acquisitions. At this point, I'm more inclined to think the 4 year player is more likely to change his ways than a 9 year vet.
http://celtics.bostonherald.com/celtics/view.bg?articleid=92385 Rockets show interest in Walker By Steve Bulpett Saturday, July 2, 2005 - Updated: 10:05 AM EST On the first day of the NBA's free agent negotiating period, Houston emerged as a potential landing site for Antoine Walker [news]. According to sources, the Rockets contacted Walker's agent, Mark Bartelstein, and expressed interest in the power forward who returned to the Celtics in a trade this past February. Walker, in turn, showed interest in the Rockets and reportedly could be visiting Houston as early as next week. Director of basketball operations Danny Ainge also contacted Bartelstein to reiterate the Celtics' interest in bringing back Walker. But assuming the Rockets are willing to spend their entire mid-level exception (approximately $5 million for one season), Walker could find Houston a more inviting option than the Celtics because of the Western Conference team's proximity to contending for a title. The Rockets did sign first-round pick Luther Head, a guard selected with the 24th overall pick in Tuesday's draft.
I would be thrilled to have Walker on the team as the 3rd option. Although he is inclined to make stupid plays often, he has been a 3 time all star and can even play point forward to release some ball handling pressure from our guards and TMac, and I also believe that he will be a very good passer to Yao. Swift has shown nothing but potential so far in his career. Walker is a clear upgrade over Howard at 4. If we can also upgrade our backcourt either at 1 or 2 after signing Walker (not counting Head), we will be a much better team than we were last season.
Walker obviously will not help on defense, but at least last year he showed signs that he won't keep jacking threes wih no conscience. One advantage he does have is that he can handle the ball and can bring it up to help take the load off TMac.
I thought Walker wanted to stay in Boston, always good to hear that a player wants to come down here because we are contending for the title. Walker may be our guy, seems like there is a lot demand for SAR and Swift and Marshall so I bet they wind up with other teams making more than the MLE. I think AW will get some better offers also so if he wants he wants to come to the Rockets for less money than I think that speaks to him wanting to adjust his game from being the go to guy to being more of a 6th man team player more interested in winning than individual stats.
I'm not a big Walker fan but he is talented...and if he WANTS to play for Houston, then that speaks to his priorities...esp if he signs for the MLE. He knows about JVG so at 28, he's now ready to buckle down and take it to the next level. This excites me. Since Dallas will be again a likely first round matchup, Walker can keep Dirk honest.
He'll be 29 next month......and he sucks!!! Don't turn to the dark side, krosfyah.....just say No to 'toine!
Now, that's a great post! Also, AW can handle the ball pretty well...something JVG loves! I think Stro would be nice as well...to a point. Last season, Clutch and I talked about Stro as JVG said that 'I want him.' I guess he still does but if rebounding is a premium, then SS is not your guy. All one needs to do is go back and look at his gamelog for last season. Find his double-digit rebounding efforts in November and then stroll down...ALL THE WAY down. See another one? Nope! 21 minutes a game? Fouls out frequently? Wants a high-dollar contract? Will most likely be a bench player? To be honest, and I can't believe I'm saying this, I'd rather have AW in a sign and trade. Dude can score, handle it, grab boards. Yeah, he takes ill-advised shots but coming off the bench that guy would work, I think!! Just a rant. Still trying to break into the fortress and get some scoop. That baby's locked down right now but have no fear (Unless Francis returns!! ) a scoop will arrive at some point. Right??? Right?? (Echo.........right.....right....right??)
We're waiting on the scoop Doc. I won't re-post all of what jcantu said since you did, but many of his points are valid. A key question about Swift is will he even beat out JH. If he doesn't earn more than 20 min per game, his stats will be similar to last year's and that won't be good enough for what we would pay him. I don't know why people think Swift's rebounding and defense are so good. These require consistent effort and concentration which is not what he brings.
I don't understand why if toine was on the Rockets, he'd be a great 6th man, or scorer off the bench. He'd be a starting PF 1. because he's an experienced player with a good shot (when he makes the right shot selection) and 2. because of Juwan's health. Cured or not, I for one would only want to see Juwan play 15 minutes at most a game because of his past condition. The next PF we're looking at needs to be our starting PF. With that said, we need someone who can compliment Yao and fill in the gaps for Howard is lacking. Walker's a scorer however I don't like how he jacks up 3's. But I do like the fact that he can bring up the ball and give t-mac some ease. Everyone here agrees that we need a big man who can grab boards. A defensive specialist to add to that, and I seriously don't see toine contributing to that. And I'll be honest too, I loved hating that guy. I don't wanna start liking him because he dons the Red and White.
For Walker to come to Houston he'd have to be conscious ahead of time at JVGs basketball philosophy, so I think the transition necessary in his game wouldn't be that big a deal. He'd certainly add a lot to the table and despite his bad rap I don't remember him being such a bad apple that he wouldn't be able to fit with TMac and Yao. His rebounding and passing alone would be a goldmine. If JVG sits him on the 3 pt line then its because he wants him to shoot the 3 and if he doesn't then he won't.
